..or is it some other unique animal? For most other degree’s I see the nomenclature ‘Master of Science in …’ or ‘Master of Arts in ..’ In other area’s I see things like ‘Master of Education’, but I’ll also run across ‘Master of Arts in Education' Or ‘Master of Science in Management’ compared to ‘Master of Management’ .. and so on.. Is there somewhere that definitively (and authoritatively) explains all these differences, or is there not really as much of a consistent naming system out there as there would seem to be?
I'd say it's a Science. With most subdisciplines of Business Administration, one can earn a Master of Science in ________, but rarely do you see a subdiscipline of Business Administration wherein you can earn a Master of Arts in ________ (except Human Resource Management).
I would agree with you, but part of my confusion is that one of the schools I went to, Temple University, just moved its economics department from the business school to the liberal arts school. After inquiry I learned that some prestigious schools, like MIT for example, have two economic departments, one in the business school and one in the L&A school. I then realized that I didn’t understand which an MBA was, which lead me to realize how different and diverse the different degree names are, which lead to more confusion and so on… Does any of it really mean anything?
It means that you're confused! But seriously, I would agree with Ted and you, BA itself is a Science. Economics, however, can considered a liberal art since there actually isn't as much of a consistent naming system in the US. mintaru.
I would say an MBA is a professional degree akin to a degree in law or architecture. Economics is a social science so it’s generally part of a school of arts and sciences (as in social sciences.)
The MBA has become so widespread, and curricula so diversified, that the term no longer connotes any one concrete definition.
